Sexton in Washington to discuss immigration, law enforcement

In this Dec. 24, 2011, file photo, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton talks to the media. Sexton will be among a group of law enforcement leaders from around the country who will meet at the White House Wednesday to discuss immigration issues.

Dusty Compton | Tuscaloosa News

By Stephanie TaylorStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 10:39 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 10:39 a.m.

Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton will be among a group of law enforcement leaders from around the country who will meet at the White House Wednesday to discuss immigration issues.

Speaking at a Las Vegas high school last week, President Barack Obama said that he will push for an overhaul of the immigration system “that’s been broken for way too long.”

His remarks came a day after a bipartisan group of senators laid out the framework for a comprehensive immigration bill that includes a conditional path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, reforms to the legal immigration system based upon the needs of the economy, the creation of an employment verification system and an improved process for admitting future workers.

Obama’s proposal includes strengthening U.S. borders, cracking down on companies that hire undocumented workers, setting requirements such as learning English and passing background checks for immigrants and streamlining the immigration system.

Sexton will attend a meeting Wednesday morning where law enforcement agents from across the country will discuss the issues they face while policing at the local level.

Questions about the federal government’s role versus the state and local role in immigration enforcement have come up in several states where recently-passed immigration laws have blurred the lines. The input from local law enforcement should highlight issues that the president’s administration will consider while formulating new immigration policy, Sexton said.

“We need clear, definite answers to several questions,” Sexton said. “We want to get out of the gray areas and clarify what is the federal policy and how will that impact what we do from a state and local perspective.”

Sexton served as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s first Assistant Secretary for State and Local Law Enforcement during 2008 and 2009. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and DHS Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin will be among those at the meeting Wednesday.

Representatives from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff’s Association and Bill Bratton, who has served as chief for the Los Angeles, New York City and Boston police departments will discuss efforts made to secure U.S. borders, issues that affect local police forces and the need for comprehensive reform.

“We are responsible the overall public safety in this community,” said Sexton, who is chairman of the National Sheriff’s Association’s Immigration Committee. “How do we focus on keeping our resources where we need to focus them instead of getting involved in immigration issues, which is in the eyes of many the responsibility of the federal government? Our state law has made it the responsibility of local agencies. How do we address training? Implementation? Do we house people who violate the law in our county jail? This a far more complicated issue than many people fathom.”

Sexton will also discuss law enforcement challenges when assisting the Hispanic community after the April 27, 2011 tornado. The homes of many Hispanic residents were destroyed, but many people resisted help from law enforcement for fear of deportation issues.

“We’ll talk about that, and about how we deal with cultural and language issues daily,” Sexton said.

Sexton will return from Washington Wednesday night.

Last month, National Sheriff’s Association president and Calhoun County Sheriff Larry Amerson was one of 13 sheriffs and police chiefs who met with President Barack Obama to discuss ways to curb gun violence.

<p>Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton will be among a group of law enforcement leaders from around the country who will meet at the White House Wednesday to discuss immigration issues. </p><p>Speaking at a Las Vegas high school last week, President Barack Obama said that he will push for an overhaul of the immigration system “that's been broken for way too long.”</p><p>His remarks came a day after a bipartisan group of senators laid out the framework for a comprehensive immigration bill that includes a conditional path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, reforms to the legal immigration system based upon the needs of the economy, the creation of an employment verification system and an improved process for admitting future workers.</p><p>Obama's proposal includes strengthening U.S. borders, cracking down on companies that hire undocumented workers, setting requirements such as learning English and passing background checks for immigrants and streamlining the immigration system.</p><p>Sexton will attend a meeting Wednesday morning where law enforcement agents from across the country will discuss the issues they face while policing at the local level.</p><p>Questions about the federal government's role versus the state and local role in immigration enforcement have come up in several states where recently-passed immigration laws have blurred the lines. The input from local law enforcement should highlight issues that the president's administration will consider while formulating new immigration policy, Sexton said.</p><p>“We need clear, definite answers to several questions,” Sexton said. “We want to get out of the gray areas and clarify what is the federal policy and how will that impact what we do from a state and local perspective.”</p><p>Sexton served as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's first Assistant Secretary for State and Local Law Enforcement during 2008 and 2009. DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and DHS Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin will be among those at the meeting Wednesday.</p><p>Representatives from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff's Association and Bill Bratton, who has served as chief for the Los Angeles, New York City and Boston police departments will discuss efforts made to secure U.S. borders, issues that affect local police forces and the need for comprehensive reform.</p><p>“We are responsible the overall public safety in this community,” said Sexton, who is chairman of the National Sheriff's Association's Immigration Committee. “How do we focus on keeping our resources where we need to focus them instead of getting involved in immigration issues, which is in the eyes of many the responsibility of the federal government? Our state law has made it the responsibility of local agencies. How do we address training? Implementation? Do we house people who violate the law in our county jail? This a far more complicated issue than many people fathom.”</p><p>Sexton will also discuss law enforcement challenges when assisting the Hispanic community after the April 27, 2011 tornado. The homes of many Hispanic residents were destroyed, but many people resisted help from law enforcement for fear of deportation issues.</p><p>“We'll talk about that, and about how we deal with cultural and language issues daily,” Sexton said. </p><p>Sexton will return from Washington Wednesday night.</p><p>Last month, National Sheriff's Association president and Calhoun County Sheriff Larry Amerson was one of 13 sheriffs and police chiefs who met with President Barack Obama to discuss ways to curb gun violence.</p>